Baby chair



Nov. 5, 1957 C. C. SKlRVlN BABY CHAIR Filed Nov. 50, 1955 ms drromvsx BABY CHAIR Chester C. Skirvin, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Trimble, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 30, 1955, Serial No. 550,001

3 Claims. (Cl. 155-40) This invention relates to a baby chair, with more particular reference to the type of construction in which an infant can bounce up and down, and has for its purpose to afford an arrangement including a supporting frame comprising two opposite leaf springs, together with quickly adjustable means operable to vary the resiliency or bouncing action of the springs and adapt the device readily to the requirements of a baby as its age and weight increase.

In a more particular aspect, the invention embodies a seat supporting frame consisting of opposite curved leaf springs having bowed portions at their front ends and each provided with a quickly adjustable resilient support slidably positionable between the base or floor and the spring on which it is mounted, and operable by a quick change in position to vary the bouncing action of the springs.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel feature being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and showing the adjustable spring supporting blocks in full line position for use with a young infant, and in dotted line position for supporting a heavier baby;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, partially broken away;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, with parts omitted;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated, and

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the resilient spring supporting blocks.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughou the several views, the structure includes a supporting frame consisting of opposite leaf springs, each embodying a top horizontal portion 1, a rearwardly and downwardly inclined portion 2, a rear vertical portion 3, and bowed portions 4 at their front ends terminating in horizontal portions 5 spaced from the base or floor 6 and connected with downwardly inclined portions 7 and terminal portions 8 which are fixedly attached to the side bars 9 of a generally U-shaped base frame, to which the floor or bottom 6 is attached at the sides and front.

The rear portions 3 of the leaf springs are resiliently connected to upstanding posts 11 of the side bars 9 of the base frame by means of coil springs 12, the bent ends of which engage openings in the posts 11 and in the vertical portions 3 of the leaf springs as shown in Fig. 2, while 13 designates a brace rod connecting the opposite portions 3 of the opposite leaf springs. 14 and 15 designate a tray and seat respectively which are suitably mounted on the horizontal portions 1 of the leaf springs, while 16 designates a back rest connected to the seat and adjustably nitcd States PatentO Patented Nov. 5, 1957 mounted on the horizontal portions 1 or rear portions 2 of the springs.

With the structure shown and thus far described, a child in the seat 15 can readily through a body action and by engaging the feet with the floor or bottom 6, bring about a vertical bouncing of the seat, due to the flexibility of the leaf springs together with the resilient connections at their rear ends and the spacing of the horizontal portions 5 above the floor or bottom 6 at their front ends.

For a young or light weight infant, this bouncing or jumping action can be at a maximum, but as an infant increases in weight, it is desirable to provide means for readily increasing the resistance or modifying the resiliency of the springs.

,In order to bring this about, each spring is provided with an adjustable supporting block made preferably of rubber or other resilient material, and positionable at various points endwise of the spring between the floor and spring. Each adjustable rubber block is preferably of generally tapered formation as shown, and includes a base 17 that rests on the floor 6, a slot or groove 18 that embraces the horizontal portion 5 of a leaf spring, and lugs or flanges 19 that overlie the top surface of the horizontal portion 5 of the spring and prevent accidental removal of the block from the spring. 20 designates a central opening in the rubber block for increasing its resiliency while lessening its weight, and the lugs or flanges '19 can readily be snapped over the edges of the spring so as to engage its top surface, and when in such position, the block can be moved slidably endwise of the spring to any desired position.

When the blocks are positioned at the rear of the horizontal portions 5 of the springs, the resiliency or bouncing action of the springs is at a maximum, and as the weight of a child increases and it is desirable to offer greater resistance to the spring action, the blocks are moved forwardly, and when positioned toward the front of the horizontal portions 5, the bouncing action of the springs is reduced to a minimum.

The blocks can be moved easily and instantly to any desired position between their forward and rearward extremes, and afford an extremely simple, practical and effective means, acting in conjunction with the supporting leaf springs, the floor, and the resilient supports for the springs at their rear ends, to maintain any desired and safe bouncing action depending upon the size and weight of the infant.

While the invention has been described in its relationship to the particular construction shown, this application is not restricted to the details herein disclosed and is intended to cover such modifications or departures as may come within the purpose of the improvement or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A baby chair including a base, and a supporting frame consisting of opposite leaf springs, the forward ends of which are bowed and terminate in generally horizontal portions parallel to and spaced above the base, each of said horizontal portions having a depending portion connected with an end that is in contact with and fixedly attached to the base, rubber supporting blocks slidably adjustable on said spaced horizontal portions of the springs and located between said horizontal portions and the base, said leaf springs including rear vertical portions the ends of which terminate above the base, and coil springs connecting the ends of said vertical portions with the base.

2. A baby ch-air'including a base, and a supporting frame consisting of opposite leaf springs, the forward ends of which are bowed and terminate in generally horizontal portions parallel to and spaced above the base,

each of said horizontal portions having a depending portion connected with an end that is in contact with and fixedly attached to the base, and rubber supporting blocks mounted on said horizontal portions of the springs and located between said horizontal portions and the base, each of said rubber supporting blocks having a. transverse recess in its upper surface, embracing said horizontal portion of the adjacent spring and slidable thereon.

3. A baby chair including a base having opposite side bars terminating in upstanding portions at their rear ends and a connecting front end, a supporting frame consisting of opposite leaf springs including rear vertical portions terminating in'spaced relation above the base, coil springs connecting the ends of said vertical portions with said upstanding portions of the base, each of said leaf springs having a bowed front 'portionterniinating in a generally horizontal portion parallel to and spaced above said base and connected by a depending portion to an end that is in contact with and fixedly attached to the base, and a rubber block slidable on each of said horizontal portions of the springs and located between said horizontal portions and the base, each block having a recess in its upper surface embracing said spaced horizontal'porti'on of the spring, and flanges overlying the top of the spring acting to retain the rubber block slidably thereon, said blocks tapering downwardly and having a central opening affording increased resiliency.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

